If there was no stimulus at all, Zandi said, unemployment would be at around 11.5% rather than 9.5%.

Business Week – Nov. 12, 2008

“In testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives in June, Zandi offered estimates of how much each dollar of government spending in different forms would produce in real GDP each year. He said extending unemployment benefits would yield $1.64 of GDP, a temporary increase in food stamps $1.73, aid to state governments $1.36, and increased infrastructure spending $1.59. “The bang for the buck is very high,” Zandi said of extended jobless benefits...

The average monthly job creation in 2012 was 150,000. That is the best one year performance during Obama's first term. That is barely good enough to keep pace with the number of workers entering the job market every month for the first time, meaning that we have a long way to go to replace the 7-8 million jobs lost during the recession.

Using this metric, it is hard to make the argument that the recovery is "percolating along" or "gaining steam," or any ther Pollyannaish terms you want to throw out there. In a word, the job situation still sucks and won't improve until the dead weight of intolerable regulations and debt are lifted from the economy

If there was no stimulus at all, Zandi said, unemployment would be at around 11.5% rather than 9.5%.

Business Week âÂÂ Nov. 12, 2008

âÂÂIn testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives in June, Zandi offered estimates of how much each dollar of government spending in different forms would produce in real GDP each year. He said extending unemployment benefits would yield $1.64 of GDP, a temporary increase in food stamps $1.73, aid to state governments $1.36, and increased infrastructure spending $1.59. âÂÂThe bang for the buck is very high,âÂÂ Zandi said of extended jobless benefits...

You can take what Zandi predicts to the bank....ruptcy..

And all those predictions were proven correct.

GDP at the beginning of Obama term CONTRACTING -9%

GDP after stimulus +4%

A thirteen point turnaround. Ya, that's some 'failure'.

BWAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Ya can't argue with reality spanky.

Let me know when you gots some reality.

BTW: The average growth rate since the recession is 1.7%, not 4%.

1.7%, that's with a trillion dollar per year borrowing/spending effort by government.

My income is up! My real estate taxes are way down! Electricity - practically give that away! Gasoline? Back to Bush era and $1.50/gal! Unemployment? By gum it is back to 5% and the government is actually counting everyone that wants a job too!

Inflation? What inflation? That is only 0.2% and the government actually includes stuff I have to buy like food, health care and energy!

And Obama just paid off my kids student loans too! $150K wooohoooo! With the fantastic jobs they are going to get they'll be able to buy a house in no time!

My income is up! My real estate taxes are way down! Electricity - practically give that away! Gasoline? Back to Bush era and $1.50/gal! Unemployment? By gum it is back to 5% and the government is actually counting everyone that wants a job too!

Inflation? What inflation? That is only 0.2% and the government actually includes stuff I have to buy like food, health care and energy!

And Obama just paid off my kids student loans too! $150K wooohoooo! With the fantastic jobs they are going to get they'll be able to buy a house in no time!

Yeah, why can't we go back to the days when you could get $200K for farting next to a for sale sign? That economy was real, right? I'm going to rail against the entitlement mentality now, as I'm immune to irony!

That's rich. You say we should have been at this point four years ago so what then did the GOP do to help attain that goal? The GOP plan, austerity, hasn't worked in any country that implemented those plans and nearly all of them fell into double dip recessions. The reality is they have done nothing except obstruct out of fear of the rank and file rabble they thought they could co opt for political victory. Now they are afraid to do anything that might get them primaried, to the extent that Karl Freaking Rove has started a PAC to boost establishment republicans. You say we should have been here four years ago then post some facts describing the missed opportunities.